Daily Lumina News 010323

Educators and students alike say California's public universities are becoming more equitable and inclusive as programs emerge to help formerly incarcerated individuals earn college degrees.
In this interview, students and administrators discuss the efforts responsible for giving people a second chance.

High school is a pivotal time for young people, and leaving with no diploma or certificate can have long-lasting social and economic effects.
The High School for Recording Arts in St. Paul, Minnesota, targets students who’ve been expelled from—or feel out of sync with—traditional schools. It connects with them through a love of hip-hop and media, and a key focus is learning about the potential careers in those industries.

In 2021, U.S. student loan debt totaled more than $1.7 trillion. And while President Joe Biden’s recently announced student loan payment extension helps relieve some of the pressure for borrowers, it doesn’t address the root of the college affordability problem.
Some programs do exist, however, to make college more affordable. More than a dozen states and multiple cities and counties subscribe to initiatives called "Promise Programs."

Low-income college students could get an extra $500 this year to help them pay for the cost of their education. Higher education advocates are praising the increase, saying it could help more students start and complete college.
Under the latest federal spending plan signed by President Joe Biden last week, the maximum value of the Pell Grant is set to rise to nearly $7,400 for the 2023 fiscal year.